The Washington critic., 1887-01-07

MATTHEWS NOMlNATIoN.
The Columbia Democratic Club |
comprising in It's membership many
leading Democrats and excellent ciu.
2ens, is understood to have resolved at
its last meeting that the appointment of
James c. Matthews for Recorder of
Deeds, though in itself uuobjection.
able is contrary TO tine Home Rule
Irinciplc cuuncla,,d by the National
Convention that nominated Mr.. Cleve-
land, md which the public was givcl
10 understand by his own declarations
the President also favored
This proyygdn. though long de
forred, Is better late than never. Had
the same stand been taken at the outset
ald the matter presented plainly aud
forcibly to the President Hs the scntl.
ment of reprcseual..t citizens, 1t Is
possible that Mr.. Cleveland might have
been dissuadcd from appointing Mr..
Matthews over again after his rejection
by the Senate, At this late day the
action of the club puts itself right upon
the record, but cannot be expected to
have any influence on villa, is now seen
10 bo the Presidents set determination.
The CHITIc, as is well known, op
posed the appointment Of Mr.. Mat
thews in the beginning upon the
ground that the office, in a peculiar
sense, belonged to the District rcll ing
solely to local affairs aud being de-
pendent solely upon citizens of the
District for its support. When the
nomination was rejected and the ap-
pointment made second time, in de-
tiance of the Senate's consent, We took
the ground that Mr.. Matthews became
conslitutionally disqualified to hold the
Office and that he was not entitled to q
dollar of its emoluments.
In the meantime, however, the San
ate has undergone a change Of front, II
not of faith, through the repeal of the
Tenure.of Office act, and although, for
reasons of its own, 1t may again decline
to confirm the nomination, il has prac.
tically surrendered the position 1t as.
sumed last winter under the leadership
of Mr.. Edmunds. With the Tenurc.or.
Office act out of the way, as It soon
will be by concurrence of the House,
we cannot see that anything will stand
in the way of the Presidents autocratic
will. He can reappoint Mr., Matthews
as many times as the Senate chooses to
reject him and only by quo warrlnto
proceedings, which will never he in.
stituted, could his title to the Office be
brought in question.
The course of THE CErrlc in the
premises speaks for itself. 1t was
taken aggressively and honestly. 1t
was maintained almost single handed ;
but We are glad to see our friends of
the Columbia Club awaking to relli.
zation of their duty even at the eleventh
hour. 1t had become necessary, by
reason Of frcqueut and gross misrepre.
sentations, That somrthing be done to
vindicato not ouiy the Democratic
party, but the citizens generally of this
Distric, against uujnst aspersions. We
say citizens generally, because the Re.
publican as well az the Democratic
National platform Lecla,ts for Home
Rule and so fur as the people Of Wash.
ington are concerned this is the only
principle lnyoiyed.
Senators may draw the color-line in
their consideration of the appointment,
bat our citizens do not. Senators may
be influenced by partisan motives in the
matter. Our citizens are not. They
have simply demanded that the Office
be given TO one of their own number
and on grounds so obviously just thai
we can conceive of no obtuseness of in
tellect so blind as 10 be incapable oil
comprehendlng them.
In view Of the fact, however, tha
the President in several notable in
stances has departed from the home
rule policy in the case Of territorial
appointments, the citizens of Washing
ton had no reason to feel that he woult
sdhere to this policy in the case of tn,
District Of Columbia. He may res
assured, however, that we shall neve
be reconciled to the manifest injustic,
of the Matthews nomination. No mat
matter how good q Recorder of Deed
he may make; no matter how many
colored men may be induced TO joit
the Democratic party on account of hi
selection; no ter how wcighty tn
Influences that dictated the nomination
the wrong rcmains unpallloted,
sound aud equitable principle has bcer
ignored, reasonable protests hav
proycl unayuiliDg, the will of tn
people has been contemptuousl
louted. The wrong can only berighte
by an und0ing Of the wrong.
--~
How much of a day" the Dlstri.
will succeed in getting ncyt Monda
remains to be seen, but the sottin
aside Of tho Cable Railroad bill TO tai;
its chances on some other occasion rl
lieyes the situation somewhat, and tn
School Board bin, II il % be hoped, la
been put into such shape as to perm
OF its prompt adoption, Besides thl
there are various other matters Grove
ing 10 the front that ought to be actc
upon at once. Delays now are NJ
only dangerous but likely to be fatal,
MARSHAL WILSON and Register {
wills Clagett, are severely blamed I
some quarters for not sustaining III
action Of the Columbia Democrat
Club In regard to the Matthews al
poiniment. But how could they be e'
pected 10 antogonize the Administer
lion Of which they are appointees $
far as these gentlemen are coneerne